Study of Natural Convection in Volumetrically Heated Enclosures for Different Aspect Ratios and Prandtl Numbers

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parameshwar Deshmukh ◽  
Sushanta K. Mitra ◽  
U. N. Gaitonde
Keyword(s):  
Natural Convection ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Simple Algorithm ◽  
Driven Cavity ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
Inclination Angles ◽  
Parametric Studies ◽  
Horizontal Cavity ◽  
Prandtl Numbers

Natural convection in volumetrically heated rectangular enclosures is studied in this work. The walls of the enclosure are maintained isothermal. For the rectangular enclosure, two-dimensional conservation equations are solved using SIMPLE algorithm. The code is benchmarked with the results for a lid-driven cavity and a differentially heated cavity. Parametric studies are conducted to examine the effects of orientation of the cavity, fluid properties (Pr number), and aspect ratio for Rayleigh numbers up to 106. For a horizontal cavity, the flow becomes periodically oscillating at Ra = 5×104 and chaotic at Ra = 8×105. With a slight increase in the inclination angle, the oscillations die down and for inclination angles greater than 15°, the flow attain a steady state over a range of Ra. The aspect ratio AR, defined as the ratio of the height to the width of the cavity, is varied from 0.25 to 0.75 (AR < 1: wide cavities) and from 2.0 to 6.0 (AR > 1: long cavities). The values of critical Ra at which the convection sets in the cavity are presented for the range of AR studied here. The corresponding flow regimes are also identified.

A Numerical Study of Laminar Natural Convection in Shallow Cavities

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Shiralkar ◽  
C. L. Tien
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Natural Convection ◽  
Prandtl Number ◽  
Liquid Metals ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Shallow Cavities ◽  
Horizontal Cavity ◽  
Side Walls ◽  
Prandtl Numbers

Heat transfer by natural convection in a horizontal cavity with adiabatic horizontal walls and isothermal side walls is investigated numerically for high aspect ratios (width/height). Comparison is made with existing analytical and experimental results. Agreement is generally good at moderate and high Prandtl numbers to which most previous works have been restricted. Improvements of the existing correlation have been proposed in regions of discrepancy. Extension to the low Prandtl number case, including the range of liquid metals, has been made on the basis of an analytical model for high Rayleigh numbers as well as by numerical solution of the full equations. The agreement between the two is found to be very good. A correlation for the heat transfer is proposed for each of the two different cases of high and low Prandtl number.

The Effect of the Top Wall Temperature on the Laminar Natural Convection in Rectangular Cavities With Different Aspect Ratios

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjiang Wu ◽  
Chan Y. Ching
Keyword(s):  
Natural Convection ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Wall Temperature ◽  
Vertical Wall ◽  
Flow Region ◽  
Temperature Profiles ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Vertical Walls ◽  
C And N ◽  
Laminar Natural Convection

The effect of the top wall temperature on the laminar natural convection in air-filled rectangular cavities driven by a temperature difference across the vertical walls was investigated for three different aspect ratios of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0. The temperature distributions along the heated vertical wall were measured, and the flow patterns in the cavities were visualized. The experiments were performed for a global Grashof number of approximately 1.8×108 and nondimensional top wall temperatures from 0.52 (insulated) to 1.42. As the top wall was heated, the flow separated from the top wall with an undulating flow region in the corner of the cavity, which resulted in a nonuniformity in the temperature profiles in this region. The location and extent of the undulation in the flow are primarily determined by the top wall temperature and nearly independent of the aspect ratio of the cavity. The local Nusselt number was correlated with the local Rayleigh number for all three cavities in the form of Nu=C⋅Ran, but the values of the constants C and n changed with the aspect ratio.

Natural Convection of Cu-Gallium Nanofluid in Enclosures

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Qi ◽  
Yurong He ◽  
Yanwei Hu ◽  
Juancheng Yang ◽  
Fengchen Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Nusselt Number ◽  
Natural Convection ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Convection Heat Transfer ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Grashof Number ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Temperature Dependent Properties

In this work, the natural convection heat transfer of Cu-gallium nanofluid in a differentially heated enclosure is investigated. A single-phase model is employed with constant or temperature-dependent properties of the fluid. The results are shown over a wide range of Grashof numbers, volume fractions of nanoparticles, and aspect ratios. The Nusselt number is demonstrated to be sensitive to the aspect ratio. It is found that the Nusselt number is more sensitive to thermal conductivity than viscosity at a low velocity (especially for a low aspect ratio and a low Grashof number), however, it is more sensitive to the viscosity than the thermal conductivity at a high velocity (high aspect ratio and high Grashof number). In addition, the evolution of velocity vectors, isotherms, and Nusselt number for a small aspect ratio is investigated.

Correlations for Natural Convection Between Heated Vertical Plates

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ramanathan ◽  
R. Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Prandtl Number ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Numerical Results ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Parallel Plates ◽  
Plate Temperature ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Prandtl Numbers

This paper presents the numerical results of natural convective flows between two vertical, parallel plates within a large enclosure. A parametric study has been conducted for various Prandtl numbers and channel aspect ratios. The results are in good agreement with the reported results in the literature for air for large aspect ratios. However, for small aspect ratios, the present numerical results do not agree with the correlations given in the literature. The discrepancy is due to the fact that the published results were obtained for channels where the diffusion of thermal energy in the vertical direction is negligible. The results obtained in this paper indicate that vertical conduction should be considered for channel aspect ratios less than 10 for Pr = 0.7. Correlations are presented to predict the maximum temperature and the average Nusselt number on the plate as explicit functions of the channel Rayleigh number and the channel aspect ratio for air. The plate temperature is a weak function of Prandtl number for Prandtl numbers greater than 0.7, if the channel Rayleigh number is chosen as the correlating parameter. For Prandtl numbers less than 0.1, the plate temperature is a function of the channel Rayleigh number and the Prandtl number. A correlation for maximum temperature on the plate is presented to include the Prandtl number effect for large aspect ratio channels.

scholarly journals Effects of circular corners and aspect-ratio on entropy generation due to natural convection of nanofluid flows in rectangular cavities

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1621-1632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Salari ◽  
Ali Mohammadtabar ◽  
Mohammad Mohammadtabar
Keyword(s):  
Natural Convection ◽  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Entropy Generation ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Solid Volume Fraction ◽  
Bejan Number ◽  
Total Entropy ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Corner Radius

In this paper, entropy generation induced by natural convection of cu-water nanofluid in rectangular cavities with different circular corners and different aspect-ratios were numerically investigated. The governing equations were solved using a finite volume approach and the SIMPLE algorithm was used to couple the pressure and velocity fields. The results showed that the total entropy generation increased with the increase of Rayleigh number, irreversibility coefficient, aspect ratio or solid volume fraction while it decreased with the increase of the corner radius. It should be noted that the best way for minimizing entropy generation is decreasing Rayleigh number. This is the first priority for minimizing entropy generation. The other parameters such as radius, volume fraction, etc are placed on the second priority. However, Bejan number had an inverse trend compared with total entropy generation. As an exception, Bejan number and total entropy number had the same trend whenever solid volume fraction increased. Moreover, Nusselt number increased as Rayleigh number, solid volume fraction or aspect ratio increased whereas it decreases with the increase of corner radius.

Numerical Study of Three-Dimensional Oscillatory Natural Convection at Low Prandtl Number in Rectangular Enclosures

2000 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shunichi Wakitani
Keyword(s):  
Natural Convection ◽  
Prandtl Number ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Width Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional Flow ◽  
Longitudinal Vortices ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Vertical Walls ◽  
Prandtl Numbers

Numerical investigations are presented for three-dimensional natural convection at low Prandtl numbers (Pr) from 0 to 0.027 in rectangular enclosures with differentially heated vertical walls. Computations are carried out for the enclosures with aspect ratios (length/height) 2 and 4, and width ratios (width/height) ranging from 0.5 to 4.2. Dependence of the onset of oscillation on the Prandtl number, the aspect ratio, and the width ratio is investigated. Furthermore, oscillatory, three-dimensional flow structure is clarified. The structure is characterized by some longitudinal vortices (rolls) as well as cellular pattern.

A Comparison of the Relative Effectiveness of Fin Aspect Ratio Under Natural Convective Heat Transfer With Top Mounted Fins

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony S. Pruszenski
Keyword(s):  
Natural Convection ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Heat Load ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Internal Heat ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Constant Heat ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Square Plate ◽  
Base Width

Mechanical engineers often design fins on metal enclosures to dissipate an internal heat load using natural convection. This paper gives the results of a series of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) studies, and, supporting calculations for the maximum temperature rise on a plate with a constant heat load of 100 watts applied to the bottom of the plate. Vertical fins are formed on the top surface of the plate. In this study, the horizontal dimensions and thickness of a square plate are held constant, while, the aspect ratio of the top surface fins are varied between studies. The aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of the height of the fin to the width of the base of the fin. The study compares aspect ratios from 1:1 to 40:1 with a constant base width. In addition, comparisons between 20:1 aspect ratio fins with the same height but with different fin counts due to changes in fin separation distances are compared. Closely spaced fins are not always the best solution for natural convection.

Computational Analysis of Laminar Natural Convection in Rectangular Enclosures of Different Aspect Ratios With Different Heating Conditions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mosfequr Rahman ◽  
Charles Walker ◽  
Gustavo Molina ◽  
Valentin Soloiu
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Natural Convection ◽  
Rayleigh Number ◽  
Temperature Gradient ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Heat Generation ◽  
Internal Heat ◽  
Internal Heat Generation ◽  
External Temperature ◽  
Aspect Ratios

Natural convection in rectangular enclosures is found in many real-world engineering applications. Included in these applications are the energy efficient design of buildings, operation and safety of nuclear reactors, solar collector design, passive energy storage, heat transfer across multi-pane windows, thermo-electric refrigeration and heating devices, and the design-for-mitigation of optical distortion in large-scale laser systems. A common industrial application of natural convection is free air cooling without the aid of fans and can happen on small scales such as computer chips to large scale process equipment. The enclosure phenomena can loosely be organized into two large classes: (1) horizontal enclosures heated from below and (2) vertical enclosures heated from the side. In addition to temperature gradient convection strength within the enclosure can vary due to the existence of heat sources with different strength. Numerical simulations are conducted for free convective flow of air with or without internal heat generation in two-dimensional rectangular enclosures of different aspect ratios. The objective of this numerical study is to investigate the effects of external temperature gradient, internal heat generation and aspect ratio (AR) of enclosure (ratio of the length of the isothermal walls to their separation distance), in free convective laminar flow of a fluid. Two-dimensional rectangular enclosures of different aspect ratio (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) with two adiabatic side walls and isothermal bottom (hot) and top (cold) walls are considered for the first configuration. Whereas for the second configuration, two adiabatic top and bottom walls, isothermal left side (cold) and right side (hot) walls are considered. Two principal parameters considered for the flow of fluid are the external Rayleigh number, RaE, which represents the effect due to the differential heating of the isothermal walls, and the internal Rayleigh number, RaI, which represents the strength of the internal heat generation. The effect of external temperature gradient and aspect ratio on natural convection has been observed by varying the value of external Rayleigh number (RaE) equal to 2×104, 2×105, and 2×106 and keeping the internal Rayleigh number constant (RaI = 2×105). Similarly, the effect of internal heat generation and aspect ratio on natural convection has been observed by varying the value of internal Rayleigh number (RaI) equal to 2×104, 2×105, and 2×106 and keeping the external Rayleigh number constant (RaE = 2×105). Significant changes in flow patterns and isotherms have been observed for all cases. Also the variation of average heat flux ratio (convective heat flux/corresponding conduction heat flux) along the hot and cold walls, and the convection strength have been calculated for all cases. It is found that the aspect ratio has a significant effect in fluid flow and heat transfer in the enclosures. The average heat flux ratio and the strength of convection increase with aspect ratio as the enclosure shape changes square (AR = 1) to shallow (AR > 1).

Reduced Basis Methods and a Posteriori Error Estimators for Heat Transfer Problems

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Rozza ◽  
C. N. Nguyen ◽  
A. T. Patera ◽  
S. Deparis
Keyword(s):  
Natural Convection ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Reduced Basis Method ◽  
Reduced Basis ◽  
Element Discretization ◽  
Convection Problem ◽  
Prandtl Numbers ◽  
Basis Method ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Natural Convection Problem

This paper focuses on the parametric study of steady and unsteady forced and natural convection problems by the certified reduced basis method. These problems are characterized by an input-output relationship in which given an input parameter vector — material properties, boundary conditions and sources, and geometry — we would like to compute certain outputs of engineering interest — heat fluxes and average temperatures. The certified reduced basis method provides both (i) a very inexpensive yet accurate output prediction, and (ii) a rigorous bound for the error in the reduced basis prediction relative to an underlying expensive high-fidelity finite element discretization. The feasibility and efficiency of the method is demonstrated for three natural convection model problems: a scalar steady forced convection problem in a rectangular channel is characterized by two parameters — Pe´clet number and the aspect ratio of the channel — and an output — the average temperature over the domain; a steady natural convection problem in a laterally heated cavity is characterized by three parameters — Grashof and Prandtl numbers, and the aspect ratio of the cavity — and an output — the inverse of the Nusselt number; and an unsteady natural convection problem in a laterally heated cavity is characterized by two parameters — Grashof and Prandtl numbers — and a time-dependent output — the average of the horizontal velocity over a specified area of the cavity.

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